- read
- read1 W1S1 [ri:d] v past tense and past participle read [red]▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(words/books)¦2¦(find information)¦3¦(read and speak)¦4¦(music/maps etc)¦5¦(computer)¦6¦(understand something in a particular way)¦7¦(have words on)¦8¦(style of writing)¦9 read something as/for something10¦(measuring)¦11¦(at university)¦12 take it as read (that)13 take something as read14 read between the lines15 read somebody's mind/thoughts16 can read somebody like a book17 read somebody's palm18 read somebody's lips19 read my lips20 do you read me?21 well-read/widely-readPhrasal verbsread something<=>backread for somethingread something into somethingread something<=>outread something<=>through/overread up on something▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English; Origin: rAdan]1.) ¦(WORDS/BOOKS)¦ [I and T]to look at written words and understand what they mean▪ I can't read your writing.▪ She picked up the letter and read it.▪ Read the instructions carefully before you start.▪ children who are just learning to read and write▪ Her books are quite widely read (=read by a lot of people) .▪ When I was young, I read every one of his books from cover to cover . (=read all of something because you are very interested )2.) ¦(FIND INFORMATION)¦ [I,T not in progressive]to find out information from books, newspapers etc▪ You can't believe everything you read in the papers.read about▪ Did you read about what happened to that guy in Florida?read of▪ I was shocked when I read of his death.read (that)▪ I read last week that the disease is on the increase.3.) ¦(READ AND SPEAK)¦ [I and T]to say the words in a book, newspaper etc so that people can hear themread sb sth▪ Daddy, will you read me a story?read (sth) to sb▪ Our mother reads to us every evening.▪ Teachers should read more poetry to children.▪ He glanced at the letter and began to read it aloud .4.) ¦(MUSIC/MAPS ETC)¦ [T]to look at signs or pictures and understand what they mean▪ He plays the violin very well but can't actually read music.▪ Are you any good at map reading?5.) ¦(COMPUTER)¦ [T]technical if a computer can read a ↑disk, it can take the information that is on the disk and put it into its memory6.) ¦(UNDERSTAND SOMETHING IN A PARTICULAR WAY)¦ [T always + adverb/preposition]to understand a situation, remark etc in one of several possible ways= ↑interpret▪ I wasn't sure how to read his silence.read sth as sth▪ She shook her head, and I read this as a refusal.▪ The poem can be read as a protest against war.read sth well/accurately(=understand something correctly)▪ He had accurately read the mood of the nation.7.) ¦(HAVE WORDS ON)¦ [T not in progressive]used to say what words are on a sign, in a letter etc= ↑say▪ A sign on the outer door read: 'No Entry'.8.) ¦(STYLE OF WRITING)¦if something reads well, badly etc, it has been written well, badly etc▪ I think in general the report reads well .9.) read sth as/for sthto replace one word or number with another one, usually with the correct one▪ Please read £50 as £15.▪ For 'November' (=instead of November) on line 6, read 'September'.10.)¦(MEASURING)¦ [T]a) to look at the number or amount shown on a measuring instrument▪ Someone should be coming to read the gas meter.b) if a measuring instrument reads a particular number, it shows that number▪ The thermometer read 46 degrees.11.) ¦(AT UNIVERSITY)¦ [I and T][i]BrE to study a subject at a university▪ I read history at Cambridge.read for▪ He wants to read for a law degree.12.) take it as read (that)especially BrE to feel certain that something is true although no one has told you it is true= ↑assume▪ You can take it as read that we will support the project.13.) take sth as readto accept that a report or statement is correct without reading it or discussing it▪ We'll take the secretary's report as read.14.) read between the linesto guess someone's real feelings from something they say or write, when they do not tell you directly▪ Reading between the lines, I'd say Robert's not very happy.15.) read sb's mind/thoughtsto guess what someone else is thinking▪ 'Want some coffee?' 'You read my mind.'16.) can read sb like a bookif you can read someone like a book, you know them so well that you immediately know what they are thinking or feeling17.) read sb's palmto look carefully at someone's hand, in order to find out about their future18.) read sb's lipsto understand what someone is saying by watching the way their lips move. People who cannot hear do this.→↑lip-read19.) read my lipsspoken used to tell someone that you really mean what you are saying▪ Read my lips: I will not let you down.20.) do you read me?spoken used to ask someone whether they can hear you when you are speaking to them by radio21.) well-read/widely-readsomeone who is well-read has read a lot of books and knows a lot about many subjects▪ She is intelligent and extremely well-read.→↑readingread back [read sth<=>back] phr vto read out loud something that you have just written downread something<=>back to▪ Can you read that last bit back to me?read for [read for sth] phr vto say some of the words that are said by a particular character in a play, as a test of your ability to actread into [read sth into sth] phr vto think that a situation, action etc has a meaning or importance that it does not really have▪ It was only a casual remark. I think you're reading too much into it.read out [read sth<=>out] phr vto read and say words that are written down, so that people can hear▪ Why don't you read out the name of the winner?read something<=>out to▪ He read the last few sentences out to me.read through/over [read sth<=>through/over] phr vto read something carefully from beginning to end in order to check details or find mistakes= ↑check over/through▪ Read the contract over carefully before you sign it.▪ Spend a couple of minutes just reading through your essay.read up on [read up on sth] phr vto read a lot about something because you will need to know about it▪ You'll enjoy traveling more if you read up on the history of the countries you'll be visiting.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬WORD FOCUS: readto read parts of something: dip into, flick/leaf through, browse throughto read something quickly: skim, scanto read something carefully: pore over, scrutinizeto read something long and boring: plough through (BrE) plow through (AmE), wade throughclear enough to read: legiblenot clear enough to read: illegiblesomeone who is unable to read: illiteratesomeone who likes reading very much: bookworm▬▬▬▬▬▬▬read 2read2 n [singular] informal1.) BrE if you have a read, you spend time reading▪ I sat down to have a nice quiet read .read of▪ I had a quick read of the report before I left.2.) a good readsomething that you enjoy reading▪ I thought his last book was a really good read.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
